As the title states considering Pagosa Springs for Thanksgiving week. Posted in travel but was suggested to hit up here as well. Kids will be 13/10/5 at the time. Oldest and I may ski but mainly just S Texas kids that want to play in some snow. Might head to Durango and/or Silverton for a day as well. I know not to plan on snow for sure in town, but we should be safe finding some up towards Wolf Creek Pass correct? Looking at snowmobiling possibly but most say 2 riders/mobile and we have 5 with only 2 adults. Anywhere that can do 3 to a vehicle?

I grew up going there, but that's been 25 years ago and it was always in the summer. Just looking for any advice on things we could do at that time of year. We would probably stay five or six nights and we would be driving from San Antonio area. We have done Carlsbad Caverns before so will probably just leave on Friday and make it to Lubbock and then finish drive the next day.

Durango Train!

They have some special stuff for kids and during holidays.

Looks like they have Polar Express kids deal next year. I'd be all over that with the age kids you have.

THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride | D&SNGRR in Colorado

Go visit the hot springs for swimming in either Pagosa or Durango.

We ski Wolf Creek every year a few weeks after Thanksgiving and Snow amount always keeps us on the edge of our seats right up until our usual trip early-mid December. I think banking on skiing Wolf Creek over Thanksgiving is far from a guarantee, especially for a season like the one we are in. They are at extremely low amounts for the year. Not trying to rain on your parade and hope they get dumped on over Thanksgiving, but wanted to provide some insight based off the last few years.

Appreciate it.

If you plan to sit in the hot springs in Pagosa, bring old swimsuits you don't mind throwing away. Don't get me wrong. The springs are awesome. But they smell like sulfur and it never comes off your clothes.

As stated earlier, the southern rockies are notoriously inconsistent for snow that time of year. Wolf creek could have 50" or it could be bare. Some resorts in the region with snowmaking usually have a run or 2 open for Thanksgiving, but fully open is usually more of a Christmas time thing.

We were there this year at Thanksgiving. Wolf Creek was "100% open", but the back side was dicey. It was my kids (4-6-8) first time skiing and the ski school was great for the older two (the 4 year old was too young). As others have noted, we got lucky by having good snow. Purgatory opened that week as well, but only had a run or two.

No snow in town and most snowmobiling, sleigh rides, sledding, etc really weren't up and running yet. We had some warm days mixed in so were able to do some day hikes which was nice. We did the polar express train as well, which the kids loved. We also drove to the four corners monument since it's only 1-1/2 hours from Durango which my kids wanted to do because we track the states they've been too.

All in all, be flexible with your plans and enjoy the fact that the town is relatively empty that week.

Road tripped it from Houston last summer for July 4th with kids age 4 and 1, also stopped in Lubbock as a 1/2 way point on the drive. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM was a neat spot. Not sure November will be swimming weather though, but maybe worth checking out still. Hit downtown Santa Fe on the way back for lunch and checked out the town square.

For Pagosa if snow isn't there could always bring some poles and fish the rivers, Tucker Ponds, or Williams Creek Reservoir. Quite a few waterfalls that are easy hikes as well.

If you haven't been to Pagosa in 25 years, you're going to be shocked and appalled at the growth and crowds.

Regarding other comments: "Silverton" train in Durango is a bucket list item, very cool. Check to see if the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa is open. It was closed for a while due to sidewall collapse. Though if you're not swimming, it is maybe a 10 minute stop. "Oh, that's cool." and back on the road.

If you have time and good weather on the trip up, visit Plaza Blanca at Abiquiu. Was the filming location for Cowboys vs. Aliens.

I lived in Pagosa for quite a while, up until 2023. We still go visit friends once or twice a year. Feel free to ask me anything.

I wouldn't bank on skiing and snowmobiling at Thanksgiving. You might, but you might not- just depends on snow load. Especially the snowmobiles. There is no where I have ever seen that will do 3 people on a sled, so that is probably out anyway.

A GREAT option for families is always Buckaroos Horsedrawn Carriage Rides. Whether there is snow or not, they can run (tires or skis). They have dinner options too, and run on a really beautiful ranch just north of town. The owners are some of our closest friends, and are amazing people. Buck will make it a magical time for yall, for sure.

Soaking in the hot springs is alejas a good time. Hiking Treasure Falls can be really cool that time of year, especially if it's starting to freeze. Hiking to the Ice Caves is cool too (it's more of big cracks in the ground that hold ice, but the whole valley and drive is amazing). Further up from there is Williams Creek Resevoir- definetly worth a visit if the roads aren't closed for mud or snow.

If there is snow, but the slopes aren't open you can rent tubes and go sledding in a few places- I recommend Coyote Hill (north of town on 600, just last Lake Hatcher, when the road turns to gravel and you cross the cattle guard, parking lot on the left. You can't miss the big sledding hill, best in town). Or, rend some snow shoes, and drive up to the Continental Divide (Wolf Creek Pass)- there is a parking lot on the north side of the highway, right below Lobo Overlook. Great place to snowshoe, and also another epic place to sled/tube there as well.

Further out, the train in Durango is fun, and they have a nice downtown to walk around there. The trek to Ouray is awesome too (weather depending, Red Mountain Pass is no joke to drive) but it is A REALLY cool town to visit for a day.

Thanks for all the great info! If we are willing to drive up to Wolf Creek Pass etc we should be able to find SOME snow at that time? Im fine if it's not ski worthy, but if we go up there and they cant even see some white stuff I may have a mutiny on my hands.

https://www.thirdgenerationoutfitters.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-EONleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUfCsdb-vJVly6PR-B6MVt4JVqJMFuYTSGlg8ZzyHhLg1CLMDgBAOpbP7A_aem_yx3osJL4oNULYsCddqaMoA

We went snowmobiling with the outfit above Christmas 2021. They are GREAT! It was a hit with all 5 of us.

Aggiewes '87

AgPT06 said:

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Thanks for all the great info! If we are willing to drive up to Wolf Creek Pass etc we should be able to find SOME snow at that time? Im fine if it's not ski worthy, but if we go up there and they cant even see some white stuff I may have a mutiny on my hands.

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No one can promise anything at Thanksgiving. If you want to guarantee snow, go closer to or after Christmas. If you can't change your dates, maybe just set expectations appropriately.

Most years, we got our first real in town the week of Halloween, but it would burn off. We would get our first snow that stuck in early-mid December. Our first BIG snow was almost always the week after Christmas, like clockwork.

This year, in January we had more snow on the ground in North Texas recently than Pagosa did in town. Heck, I saw some wedding pics from a friend this past weekend, and there is still modestly patchy snow down in town- which is crazy. It's a VERY dry year, historically so. They have snow at the pass, but are way behind schedule. That will make for a very long and stressful wildfire season.

November can truly swing either way. You should be able to at least find some patches of snow by late November, and Wolf Creek should have some. But- it's no guarantee by any means. Even with the historically bad snow, I believe Wolf Creek was still the first ski resort in CO to open in '24, opening a few runs in very late October. So, I would think you can at least find white stuff to play in, but I wouldn't bet any money on it this far out.

If you are dreaming of a winter wonderland, you need to wait a month. It's really like a hallmark movie around Christmas and January. It's pretty epic.

Aggiewes said:

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https://www.thirdgenerationoutfitters.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH-EONleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUfCsdb-vJVly6PR-B6MVt4JVqJMFuYTSGlg8ZzyHhLg1CLMDgBAOpbP7A_aem_yx3osJL4oNULYsCddqaMoA

We went snowmobiling with the outfit above Christmas 2021. They are GREAT! It was a hit with all 5 of us.

Aggiewes '87

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3rd Gen is a good outfit. Been with them several times. But, you need 3 old enough to drive their own to get 3 sleds.